Nathan Carter said it is “frustrating” to see GAA events happening in Ireland when the music industry still has no reopening plans.
The Wagon Wheel singer told Lunchtime Live that the music sector was the first to close and months later still has no reopening plans: “At the end of the day the entertainment industry was the first to close, first industry to close due to Covid and it’s not the last.
“There doesn’t seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel even for anyone involved in the music business.”
Nathan shed a light on the entire sector that is being forgotten about and how people often forget that it is not just the performer who is out of work. He said: “It’s not just singers involved in the whole business.
“It’s musicians, it’s lighting guys, sound engineers, truck drivers, crew, promoters, managers.”
The country music star is performing at a music festival in Derry at the weekend, with around 2,000 people in attendance. It will be his first performance in 18 months.
“I’m doing a gig this weekend up in Derry, an outdoor festival and there seems to be no issues north of the border.
“So I don’t understand why we can’t get some sort of clarity or some sort of direction or even a date to work to.”
With the majority of Nathan’s work in the south of Ireland, he does not see the difference between the 40,000 spectators at this weekend's hurling final and music lovers socially distanced at an outdoor concert.
He said: “It’s very frustrating, especially when you see the likes of GAA events happening and sporting events happening.
“If people are allowed to go to them, what’s the difference?”
Nathan is calling for some answers from the Irish government and is frustrated at the difference in restrictions in the UK.
He said: “I just think we could do with some sort of answers for the whole industry to move forward.
“It’s very unfair whenever you look across the pond in the UK whenever you see everybody out enjoying music.”
He added: “For a lot of musicians it’s not just about playing and making money.
“When you stop a musician playing music, it affects their mental health.”
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